Infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

J Child Neurol. 2002 Feb:17 Suppl 2:2S9-2S22. doi: 10.1177/08830738020170021201.

Abstract

Infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are rare but are important to child neurologists because of the intractable nature of the seizures and the serious neurologic comorbidities. New antiepileptic drugs offer more alternatives for treating both infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Selected children with infantile spasms are candidates for epilepsy surgery. Vagus nerve stimulation, corpus callosotomy, and the ketogenic diet are all options for selected children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The epidemiology, clinical manifestations of the seizures, electroencephalographic characteristics, prognosis, and treatment options are reviewed for infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Additional therapies are needed for both infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as many children fail to achieve adequate seizure control in spite of newer treatments.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Corpus Callosum / surgery
  • Diet Therapy
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Absence / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Absence / physiopathology
  • Epilepsy, Absence / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Patient Selection
  • Prognosis
  • Spasms, Infantile / diagnosis
  • Spasms, Infantile / physiopathology
  • Spasms, Infantile / therapy*
  • Syndrome
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vagus Nerve

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants